Bell Helicopter's Display Panel Grants Tons of Imagery and Data

Bell Helicopter has created a panel concept for its V-280 Valor next-generation military tiltrotor. What makes this design stand out is the use of a single screen. The huge display will provide pilots with an enormous amount of data and imagery -- a crucial need when it comes to performing their duty.

In creating this impressive design, Bell Helicopter considered who their future pilots would be. Jeremy Chavez, project engineer on the V-280 program, says, "The aircraft would become operational during the 2025 to 2030 time frame, so we looked at trends where cockpits were heading: more touchscreen interactive capabilities. We looked at the technology currently on the commercial market and who the pilots will be operating the aircraft in that time frame. They have grown up with iPads, pinching and swiping screens. That kind of thing will be highly intuitive to them."